St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-25
WILL BE misunderstood.
Lamar's Position Regarding
Railway Indemnity Lands.

|
Special 10 the GLOBE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-It is a hui
initiating fact that the confirmation or
rejection of the nomination of justice
of the supreme court of this republic is
at the mercy of the corporations. In
| his recent decision concerning the sec
Ond indemnity belt of the Northern Pa
| cific railroad, Secretary Lamar has in
Cured the active hostility of the rail-
road interests of the country. He has
| shown that he is Indifferent to them
and to their interests, and they are not
| inclined to permit him to have the
power of final decision as justice of
the supreme court, upon cases which
they will probably be obliged to appeal
to that court, on account of his recent
decision. The interests of all rail-
roads are similar, in great degree, and
what affects one, affects all. The
Northern Pacific is not friendless.
In fact, every cOrpor alton in
the country has its friends in
the house of representatives, and not
few of them have their moSt interested
friends in the senate. Secretary Lamar
has now before him the case of the ap-
plication of the Northern Pacific for a
review of his recent decision. He has
decided against the company in the face
of the rulings and decisions OF the de-
partment for the past seventeen years.
He has Over-ridden all commissioners of
the general land office, and also the sec
retaTieS who have occupied the seat he
now holds, including
ALL SINCE DELANO,
in 1871. James McNaught, Cf st. Paul,
has made oral argument and filed
printed brief, and Mr.. Lamar is now
considering whether or not he will re-
verse his decision. There is much back
of it: more than the mere decisions of a
railroad matter. There is a supreme
iudgeShip back of it. 1t is intimated
everywhere that if Mr.. Lamar decides
adversely to the railroads, as seems
probable at present, he will not be con-
tirmed as associate justice of the Su-
preme court. There's the rub. This
charge is not made by the corporation,
nor by any especial friends of
the corporation. 1t is the feel
ing which is in the air on
the subject. Speculation is rife, and
there is no end to it. In addition to the
case in hand, there are other cases of a
similar nature to be presented as soon
as the matter of the second indemnity
belt is settled. The position of Mr.. La
mar is unenviable. If he shall adhere
to his position, the corporations will
proceed at once to destroy his chances
of preferment. If he reverses his de-
cision. it will be at once concluded that
he "has sold himself to the soullesS cor
pOrations," and the disinterested sena-
tors will be obliged to vote again his
confirmation. He will not be given a
fair trial nor an impartial hearing. He
will be tried by popular verdict, and
have no voice in the matter whatever.
1t is alleged by the friends of the rail-
road that there are twenty villages and
not less than 10000 people affected by
the recent decision of the secretary de-
nying
THE SECOND INDEMNITY BELT
to the corporation. The people there
will resist the operation of ruling
which deprives them of their homes.
Counsel Mcknight is ready for the ar
gument of an application for an injunc-
ton against the United States before
Judge Brewer, on the 18th of December
next. He now has cases applying for
against THE vagabOnd ma
rauders who are settling upon lands al
ready passed upon and settled by Sec
retarieS DelanO, KirkwoOd and Teller"
1t is true, as was stated by Mr.. Nc
Naught, several weeks ago, the invasion
of these lands will be resisted with the
whole power of the Northern Pacific.
The laws delays will be invoked and
the matters ultimately referred to the
attorney general for his opinion. In
that event. the corporation will triumph,
as it always does in such cases. There
is no royal road to happiness opened be-
fore the settlers upon those lands. This |
is especially true in Minnesota and in
the st. Cloud district. The Dakota |
cases will be considered at much later |
date. However, the attitude and con-
dition of Mr.. Lamar remain unchanged, |
no matter which cases shall come up |
first for final decision and ruling. He
is now placed in the attitude. of a man
going upon the bench as a purchased |
friend of the corporations, or else as one
defe ated by the power of those finan-